An online journal of Mannie Gentile, a National Park Service Park Ranger working on the National Mall in our nation's capital.
DISCLAIMER: please note that this blog represents only my views and not those of the National Park Service.
Feel free to email me at: museumofamerica@myactv.net

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Three Cheers for the Volunteers!

The Mumma barn has been a beehive of volunteer activity this fall and winter as our all-volunteer gun detachment has been getting trained up on the safe loading and handling of the Park's 12 pounder light-gun howitzer (Napoleon).

Safety, being the first consideration, kept the crew in the barn going through each step of each postition of each crewmember until everybody could perform each job flawlessly.

As with an actual gun detachment, each member has to become proficient in each job, and they rotate positions frequently.

The ultimate goal is to provide gun firing demonstrations on the last Saturday (tentatively) of each month during the tourist season.

The detachment moved out of the barn in December as they were ready to do actual firing. And they've had about four firing sessions since then.

We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers willing to sacrifice so much time in order to bring this exciting program to the public.

9 comments:

I know this would ruffle some feathers, but could'nt they find enough male volunteers to fill out a gun crew? Either way given the role of artillery at Antietam it will make for a neat presentation. ~Gary

The last photo shows a gunner aiming carefully. It has always amazed me how accurate the gunners could actually be. It's got to be hard to aim a cannon in the midst of battle, amid clouds of smoke, while hoping that a sniper doesn't have you in their sights, but what about the sailor? These guys were good.

I've also thought about how good the gunners from both sides became in their line of work. It seems that by 1862-1863 they could place shots anywhere they wanted to that was within range. To think that except for the Whitworth and maybe a few other guns the cannons weren't breachloaders and the manual siting was what they had to work with their ability to wreak total destruction became very impressive. I think it was D.H. Hill who was reported as saying, "Give me Rebel Infantry and Yankee Artillery and I'll conquer the world".Thanks for the post,Chris

Re-enact-tards like you make me want to pull out my long, silky, girl hair. Have you ever thought about thanking the members of the detachment (not "gun crew") for volunteering instead of focusing on their gender? I think YOUR anatomy is making you think and say silly things.Sincerely,A Big Supporter of Dames, Broads, and Skirts “Manning” the Guns

I'm very excited to see that there will be an artillery presence at Antietam. Hearing just one gun go off can help folks realize just how loud the "Artillery Hell" got on Sept. 17, 1862.

As a female re-enactor in a Maryland artillery unit, I have to say that I have heard some criticism from people about the accuracy of women in the ranks, but this is mostly from the historically misinformed. A great book on this subject is "They Fought Like Demons" which has documented cases of women fighting in the ranks, getting wounded, captured, and even dying during the Civil War.

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I'm a Park Ranger on the National Mall in Washington DC. I'm very proud and fortunate to be working at such a significant place and to be sharing this magnificent resource with visitors from around the world.

About Mannie

I'm fortunate to have married the love of my life. In that, I am a very lucky fellow. Otherwise I live in Washington County in western Maryland in a little house on the shoulder of South Mountain.
Other stuff from me here: http://manniesartimitateslife.blogspot.com/